Thomas g



(No Model.)

T. G; SAXTON.

AIR BXGLUDBR FOR FAUOBI'S IN BEER GOOLERS.

Patented Dec.v 28

FIG.3.

FIG 1.

m n m m FIG-.2;

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

THOMAS G. SAXTON, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOE OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES W. FOUSHEE, JR, OF SAME PLACE.

AlR-EXCLUDER FOR FAUCETS 'IN BEER-COOLERS.

FiPECl'FICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,218, dated December 28, 1886,

Application filed April 24, 1886. Serial No. 199,993. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. SAXTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Excluders for Beer- Coolers, &c., of which the following is aspecifieation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a device that will prevent air entering at the faucet holes of beer-coolers and other similar receptacles containing liquors on tap. Said device consists, essentially, ofa two-part ring or annulus suitably hinged or otherwise jointed together, so as to be readily openedor separated, the central orifice thereof being adapted to surround the faucet, and an india-rubber or similar flexible gasket or packing being applied to said divided ring. This gasketis also made in two parts, and when the device is fitted around a faucet and properly attached to the same an air-tight joint is formed without connecting to the cooler or-chest, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a fron elevation showing the two-part annulus in its open condition. Fig. 2 is asimilar elevation, but showing the device clamped around a fancet, the latter being sectioned. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken at the line a z of the preceding illustration. Figs. 4 and 5 show two different modifications of my invention.

A A represent two similar halves of a ring or annulus, which is preferably made of thin metal, said halves being hinged or otherwise jointed together at B, in order that they may be readily opened or separated from each other when occasion requires. This joint is located atone edge of the divided annulus, and near the opposite edge or side thereof asuitable retaining device is applied. In the present case this device is shown as consisting of a spring clas'p or clip, C, hinged to the ring A at I), and having at its free end an eye, E, adapted to engage over a small pin orstump, F, projecting from the ring A.

G is a fixed tongue projecting from one of the rings, and arranged to slip in behind the other ring when the device is closed.

H H represent two similar halves of a flexiter as to form an air-tight joint.

ble or yielding gasket or packing-ring, each ring being provided with an inner lip, I, and an outer lip, I. These lips are adapted toengage over the inner and outer edges, respeotively, of the divided annulus A A, as more clearly seen in Fig. 3.

J represents a portion of a faucet passed through the customary hole, K, in abeercooler or other receptacle, L, for keeping liquor on tap.

The method of using this device is as fol lows: The faucet J is first passed through the hole K and inserted in the beer or other keg in the usual manner, after which act the sect-ional device is opened, as seen in Fig. l, and

then closed around said faucet, as represented in Fig. 2. \Vhen thus applied and the latch C engaged with the pin F, the device is securely mounted upon the faucet-barrel J, the

inner lips, I I, fitting so snugly around the lat- Then by pressing the flat surfaces of the gasket H H against the front of the cooler another airtight joint will be formed. It Will thus be seen that this simple and readily-applied device prevents air passing through the faucethole K, and thereby lowering the temperature of the cooler. I

In the modification of my invention seen 8c in Fig. 4 the device has a second but smaller opening, M, surrounded by a lip, N, said opening being designed to receive a tube that admits air into the keg for the purposeof venting the same. If desired, this opening may merge into the main or central orifice of the device. Again, inFig. 3 the sides of the rings A A are convex or crowning, while in Fig. 5 the side of ring A is straight, thus indicating that the shape of the device may be varied.

It is preferred to make the gasket H H of india-rubber, because the lips I I can be cast therewith, thus enabling any bar-tender to apply a new gasket to the rings A A in case of an old gasket wearing out or being injured.- 5 After a keg has been emptied the device is detached from the faucet, the latter withdrawn, the keg removed, and a full one substituted for it. The faucet is then inserted in this keg and the device again applied, as previously 10: described.

From this description it is evident my device is bodily detachable from the cooler or chest, and can be instantly applied without using a screwdriver or other implement. In this respect 'said device is radically different from those air-exclnders which are letinto and screwed fast to the cooler, and require considerable time and labor to detach them.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a bodily-detachable air-excluder for beer-coolers, &c., of a twopart ring provided with a two-part gasket adapted to be fitted around a faucet and secured thereto without connecting to the cooler, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, in a bodily-detachable air-excluder for beer-coolers, &c., of a twopart ring hinged together and provided with a retaining device,and a two'part gasket, which In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' THOMAS o. SAXTON.

WVitnesses: I

JAMES H. LAYMAN, SAML. S. CARPENTER. 

